[00:00:07]
WE'LL CALL TO ORDER THE COUNCIL MEETING FOR AUGUST THE 4TH.
2026. WELCOME ALL OF YOU THAT HAVE JOINED US IN THE CHAMBERS AS WELL AS THOSE LISTENING OR SWITCHING. WITH THE ROLL CALL LINDSEY?
>> ADAMS COBLENTZ? DAWSON? GRISWOLD? .MORMON? PARSONS? TAYLOR?
HERE. >> WOULD YOU PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND REMAIN STANDING FOR A MOMENT OF
SILENCE. >> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH
LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. >> THANK YOU.
[4. MAYOR AND COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS.]
EARLIER TONIGHT DURING THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE THERE WERE NO OFFICIAL ACTIONS OF BUSINESS FOR THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER. UNDER MAYOR'S ANNOUNCEMENT, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO AUBURN CITY SCHOOLS, RECENTLY THEY'VE HAD TWO EVENTS, THE NEW TEACHER BREAKFAST AS WELL AS THE INSTITUTE DAY. VERY ENCOURAGING TO BE AROUND OUR NEW TEACHERS AND TO BE AROUND THE ENTIRE BODY OF EMPLOYEES AND TEACHERS AT AUBURN CITY SCHOOLS AS THEY GET READY FOR THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL THIS FRIDAY.CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE SCHOOL BOARD AND THEIR SERVICE TO AUBURN CITY SCHOOLS AS WELL AS THE CENTRAL OFFICE STAFF AND LOOKING FORWARD TO A GREAT SCHOOL YEAR WITH OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM HERE. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO MY FRIEND DAVID HOWSELL WHO INVITED ME TO JOIN HIS LEGENDARY GROUP OF MEN THAT GET TOGETHER AT THE BACK BOOTH OF "CHAPPIE"S RECENTLY THIS WEEK, A LOT OF GOOD CONVERSATION, TALKING TO THAT GROUP OF FOLK AND A LOT OF BIG FANS OF THE COMMUNITY AND I ARE. I WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO TIPPY MILLER AND HER TEAM FOR ANOTHER GREAT UNITED WAY KICK-OFF. UNITED WAY IS AN OUTSTANDING ORGANIZATION THAT SUPPORTS SO MANY WORTHY NON- PROPERTIES IN OUR COMMUNITY. THERE ARE WAYS THAT TRADITIONAL WAYS OF RAISING RESOURCE AS A KICK-OFF FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION.
I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT THEY LINE UP INSIDE THE WAREHOUSE OF THE FOOD BANK AND PUT TOGETHER MEALS TO DISTRIBUTE ALL OVER LEE COUNTY AND I COMMEND FOR THEM, AND I WOULD ASK YOU TO CONSIDER CONTRIBUTING TO THE UNITED WAY AS YOU THINK ABOUT THOSE RESOURCES THAT YOU WANT TO PROVIDE.
ALSO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE GREATER PEACE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. THEY HAD THEIR ANNUAL FUNDRAISING THIS PAST SATURDAY NIGHT AT GREATER PEACE BAPTIST CHURCH AND THEY'RE DOING SOME TREMENDOUS WORK, AND I APPRECIATE THEIR CONTINUED EFFORT TO MAKE OUR AREA A BETTER PLACE. CERTAINLY THANK YOU TO THE DOWNTOWN MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION AND ALL OF OUR ATTENDING STAFF IN DEPARTMENTS HERE AT THE CITY OF AUBURN.
A COUPLE OF FRIDAYS AGO CHEERS ON THE CORNER WAS A WONDERFUL EVENING IN DOWNTOWN AUBURN. WE ACTUALLY GOT A BREAK WITH SOME REALLY GREAT WEATHER. THERE WERE SOME GREAT CROWDS DOWN THERE AND IT WAS A GREAT WAY TO CULMINATE THE SUMMER AS WE GOT READY TO GET BACK TO SCHOOL.
BUT I WANT TO THANK OUR DOWNTOWN MERCHANTS FOR STAYING OPEN LATE AND PARTICIPATING IN A REALLY GREAT EVENT.
AND I WANT TO THANK THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
RECENTLY THEY HAD A WELCOME TO AUBURN SOCIAL WHERE A NUMBER OF NEW CITIZENS WERE THERE, IT WAS FUN AND INTERESTING TO HEAR THE REASONS THAT PEOPLE HAVE LAND HERE IN AUBURN AND WHY THEY CHOSE TO BE A PART OF OUR COMMUNITY AND VERY EXCITED, AND I THINK AND I THANK THE CHAMBER FOR HOSTING THAT EVENT. TONIGHT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT IS HOSTING NATIONAL NIGHT OUT, THEIR OUTREACH TO OUR COMMUNITY AS WE GO AHEAD READY TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL, PRIMARILY WITH THE YOUTH OUR COMMUNITY AND I APPRECIATE THE EXTRA EFFORT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT IS DOING TO BRIDGE APPRECIATES AND PARTNERSHIP SHIPS WITH THOSE PEOPLE THAT LIVE AMONGST US HERE IN THE CITY OF AUBURN. YES?
>> I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY WHO CAME OUT TO MY COMMUNITY WARD MEETING LAST WEEK AND I WANT TO GIVE A SPECIAL THANK YOU FOR MAYOR ANDERS AND CITY COUNCILMEMBERS DAWSON AND GRISWOLD AND PARSONS AND Y'ALL PRESENCE IN THE HOUSE, ALSO TO SHARON TOLL BERT AND [INDISCERNIBLE] WARREN, TOMIKA AND AMANDA SANDERS WHO GAVE A LOT OF GOOD INFORMATION ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING. SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING A PART OF THAT EVENT THAT NIGHT.
>> THANK YOU, CONNIE. APPRECIATE YOUR ORGANIZATION.
I THOUGHT IT WAS VERY INFORMATIVE.
>> GOOD INFORMATION. >> YEAH, I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T
MEAN TO INTERRUPT. >> THAT'S OKAY.
>> ANYONE ELSE? ONE FINAL ANNOUNCEMENT, AND I SAY THIS EVERY YEAR... THIS WEEK IS BACK TO SCHOOL WEEK.
WE'VE GOT A COUPLE SCHOOLS THAT ARE STARTING TOMORROW.
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN AUBURN WILL BE STARTING ON FRIDAY.
WE HAVE ENJOYED A PACE THAT HAS BEEN DIFFERENT OVER THE LAST 8 OR 9 WEEKS IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE HAVE REALIZED THAT LESS
[00:05:01]
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HERE, LESS STUDENTS HAVE BEEN HERE AND ALL OF THAT IS ABOUT TO RAPIDLY CHANGE.AND CERTAINLY ON FRIDAY YOU'LL NOTICE HOW MANY SCHOOL BUSES WILL GET BACK ON THE ROADS. I JUST ASK ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY TO BE PATIENT AND TO GET UP AND START A LITTLE BIT EARLY IN THE MORNING AND TO PREPARE YOUR TRIPS AS WE ALL GET USED TO A NEW RHYTHM OF TRAVELING IN AND AROUND OUR COMMUNITY.
THE UNIVERSITY IS STILL A COUPLE OF WEEKS AWAY FROM STARTING, BUT THINGS THAT INVOLVE STUDENTS ARE BEGINNING IN EARNEST NEXT WEEK, INCLUDING ACTUALLY SUMMER GRADUATION OCCURS ON SATURDAY.
SO IT'S ALL ABOUT THE COMMUNITY WHERE THE PEOPLE ARE COMING BACK TO TOWN AND TO FILL OUR CITY UP TO THE NORMAL POPULATION LEVELS THAT WE'RE USED TO. SO FOR THAT TO WORK FOR ALL OF US, PLEASE THINK AHEAD THEY DID, PLEASE BE CAREFUL AND PLEASE PLAN YOUR DAY ACCORDINGLY. IT WILL RELIEVE ITSELF AT SOME POINT IN TIME AND EVERYBODY WILL GET USED TO THE RHYTHM AND WE'LL GET AROUND A LITTLE BIT EASIER. OKAY? ALL RIGHT. AT THIS TIME, WE'VE GOT A VIDEO THAT WILL TALK ABOUT ALL OF OUR OUTSTANDING EMPLOYEES.
♪♪ >> WE'RE PROUD TO INTRODUCE YOU TO OUR AUGUST EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH AND I HAVE A MEMORANDUM HERE FROM CYNTHIA LEDBETTER THE LIBRARY DIRECTOR NAMING ANDREW ADAMS EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH. ANDREW BEGAN HIS CAREER WITH THE CITY OF AUBURN IN 2001. AS A PART-TIME LIBRARY ASSISTANT BEFORE ADVANCING INTO A FULL-TIME ROLE.
THROUGHOUT HIS YEARS OF SERVICE HE HAS CONSISTENTLY EXAMPLIFIED THE CITY'S CORE VALUES. ANDREW DEMONSTRATES RESPECT, INTEGRITY AND PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE IN EVERY INTERACTION.
HE IS WIDELY RESPECTED FOR HIS CALM PRESENCE, DEPENDABLE WORK ETHIC AND ABILITY TO CONNECT WITH PATRONS OF ALL AGES.
CITIZENS AND COLLEAGUES FREQUENTLY COMMEND HIM FOR HIS WELCOMING DEMEANOR AND WILLINGNESS TO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND TO HELP OTHERS, OFTEN VOLUNTEERING TO STAY LATE OR HELP COVER AREAS IN NEED. KNOWN AFFECTIONATELY AS "MR. ANDREW", HE MAKES A LASTING IMPACT BISHOP GREETING VISITORS BY NAME AND CREATING AN INVITING ATMOSPHERE FOR EVERYONE WHO ENTERS THE LIBRARY. BEYOND HIS DAILY RESPONSIBILITIES ANDREW HAS SERVED ON VARIOUS EMPLOYEE COMMITTEES, DEMONSTRATING HIS COMMITMENT TO STRENGTHENING THE ORGANIZATION. HIS WILLINGNESS TO CONTRIBUTE OUTSIDE THE ASSIGNED ROLES REFLECTS HIS DEDICATION TO BOTH HIS COWORKERS AND THE CITY OF AUBURN.
WHETHER HE IS PATIENTLY ASSISTING PATRONS WITH TECHNOLOGY OR ENTHUSIASTICALLY STEPPING UP TO SUPPORT A COLLEAGUE, ANDREW ALWAYS DEMONSTRATES RELIABILITY, KINDNESS AND EXCEPTIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE.
HIS POSITIVE ATTITUDE, SELFLESS LEADERSHIP AND UNWAVERING DEDICATION CONTRIBUTE GREATLY TO THE SUCCESS OF OF THE TEAM, THE LIBRARY AND THE CITY MUCH AUBURN, MAKING HIM TRULY DESERVING OF RECOGNITION AS THE EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH.
CONGRATULATIONS. WE APPRECIATE YOUR HARD WORK.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU.
>> CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES.
WE APPRECIATE THE GREAT JOB YOU DO.
THANK YOU TO ANDREW ADAMS FOR BEING RECOGNIZED AS OUR EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH. THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE LIBRARY A SPECIAL AND UNIQUE PLACE AND ALL THE BEST TO JOEL HARE AND
[00:10:03]
BLAKE TAUNTON FROM OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT WHO ARE RETIRING.THANK YOU FOR PROTECTING US OVER THE LAST 25 YEARS.
NOT SURE, IS THERE A MEMBER OF AUBURN UNIVERSITY HERE TONIGHT THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A UNIVERSITY REPORT? I KNOW THIS WAS A TRANSITIONAL WEEK AND YOU MIGHT NOT -- OKAY.
THEN WE WILL MOVE AHEAD WITH CITIZENS COMMUNICATION ON ITEMS ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO THE COUNCIL ABOUT ANY ITEM ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT, NOW WOULD BE THE TIME FOUR TO COME FORWARD. WE WOULD ASK YOU COME TO THE PODIUM AND GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD AND YOU'LL HAVE 5 MINUTES NO SPEAK K WITH COUNCIL.
[7. CITY MANAGER’S COMMUNICATIONS. ]
OKAY. WE'LL MOVE AHEAD WITH CITYMANAGER'S COMMUNICATIONS. >> MAYOR, FIRST UNDER CITY MANAGER'S COMMUNICATIONS, I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND MY GRATITUDE TO OUR STAFF IN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AND IN OUR PUBLIC WORKS AND WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENTS, THE WEST MAGNOLIA QUICK REPAIR PROJECT. IT LASTED ABOUT 30 DAYS, THAT THE COUNCIL GOT AN INTERESTING EMAIL ABOUT ABOUT A WEEK AGO.
IT'S NOT OUR INTENTION TO CLOSE A MAJOR ARTERIAL ROAD AT ANY TIME BUT WHEN WE HAD CRITICAL REPAIRS THAT NEEDED TO BE MADE IN THE SPRING WE WERE GOING TO PUT A BAND-AID ON IT, WE WAITED UNTIL AFTER THE WORLD CUP MATCH AND I'M PROUD AS WE TOLD YOU IN YOUR WEEKLY NEWS ON FRIDAY IT OPENED AS SCHEDULED ON SATURDAY MORNING. AS MOVE-INS WITH BEGINNING TO HAPPEN. SO THE CONTRACTOR ALONG WITH OUR CITY STAFF WORKED TIRELESSLY TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN SO WE REALLY DO TRY TO GET IN AND OUT AND NOT INCONVENIENCE PEOPLE.
AND I KNOW SOME FOLKS HAD TO PIVOT DURING THE SUMMER BUT THERE IS NO OTHER TIME TO DO THIS.
SO I APPRECIATE THE PIVOT. I'M SORRY WE HAD TO CLOSE THE ROAD FOR ABOUT A MONTH BUT I THINK WE GOT IT DONE TIMELY AND NOW IT'S PRE-PAIRED AND A MUCH H SAFER SITUATION.
[8. CONSIDERATION OF CONSENT AGENDA.]
ON OUR FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS AS CONSENT AGENDA, DOES ANY MEMBER WISH TO REMOVE AN ITEM AND DEAL WITH THAT ITEM INDIVIDUALLY?>> OKAY, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA? 0 MOTION AND SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? AWFER DISCUSSION? THE CONSENT AGENDA IS APPROVED.
[9.a. General Obligation Warrants. Authorize the issuance of the City's General Obligation Warrants, Series 2026 for public school purposes.]
>> 9A AUTHORIZES THE ISSUANCE OF $241,841,000 IN BARNS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL PURPOSES WITHIN THE CITY. FOR THIS ITEM THERE NEEDS TO BE A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR UNANIMOUS CONSENT, THEN A ROLL CALL VOTE FOR UNANIMOUS CONSENT. AFTER THAT, A MOTION FOR APPROVAL -- MOTION AND SECOND FOR APPROVAL THEN HAVE DISCUSSION AND THEN THE ROLL CALL VOTE.
>> I'LL INTRODUCE THE OTHERS AND ASK FOR UNANIMOUS CONSENT.
>> SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
>> MOVE AT THIS TIME, WOULD YOU GO THROUGH THE ROLL CALL FOR
>> I'LL MOVE FOR APPROVE. >> SECOND.
>> I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. THIS TIME WE'LL OPEN FOR DISCUSSION. IF ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS YOU WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE STAFF, WE DO HAVE SOME GUESTS THAT WOULD PROBABLY TAKE QUESTIONS TOO IF WE NEEDED, OUR FRIENDS WHO HELPED US WITH THIS BOND SALE. ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I CAN DIRECT THOSE TO YOU, CITY MANAGER AND DIRECT AS NEEDED FROM THERE. I WANTED TO KIND OF TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE BOND SALE ITSELF.
AND OUR PACKET, IT TALKS ABOUT THE USE OF PROCEEDS OF THE SUM OF ABOUT 40.6 MILLION GOING TOWARDS REFUNDED BONDS.
AND THEN THE REST OF THE BALANCE, ABOUT 214.6 MILLION GOES TOWARDS THE SCHOOL PROJECT. VERSUS THE GENERAL OBLIGATION FACE VALUE OF 241 MILLION. SO THERE'S A NET PREMIUM IN THERE THAT I JUST KIND OF WANTED TO GET A LITTLE BIT FURTHER EXPLANATION ON HOW THAT'S DERIVED, THAT NET PREMIUM WHEN WE GO TO MARKET, HOW THAT HAPPENS NECESSARILY AND TOO KIND OF WHAT THOSE NET PREMIUM FUNDS CAN BE USED FOR AS FAR AS THIS
PROJECT IS CONCERNED. >> YEAH, I'LL HAVE ALISON EDGE OUR FINANCIAL DIRECTOR ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS.
>> AND I'LL DO MY BEST. FRASIER LINEAR CAN HELP IF WE
NEED -- >> YEAH, WE HAVE BOB YOUNG AND JOHN MAZIK FROM FORECASTIER LIN EAR.
I RECOMMEND ALISON WILL ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS BUT BOB AND JOB DO A GREAT JOB OF GIVING YOU THE OVERVIEW OF THE SALE, HOW THINGS WERE ON THE MARKET, A LINE OF VOLATILITY THESE DAYS.
THEY'VE BEEN DOING THIS WITH US FOR OVER 40 YEARS SO THEY'RE LONG-TERM PARTNERS AND CAN EXPLAIN A LOT SO I'LL HAVE ALISON ANSWER AND THEN WHEN WE'RE DONE, WE'LL HAVE BOB COME UP. THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
>> TO START WITH, WE START ANY KIND OF DEBT ISSUANCE LIKE THIS WITH UNDERSTANDING HOW MUCH CASH WE NEED FOR OUR PROJECT.
AND SO OUR DEBT IS STRUCTURED FROM THAT.
[00:15:01]
SO WE START WITH WHAT WE NEED. WHEN BONDS ARE ISSUED IN THE BOND MARKET, THEY'RE ISSUED IN A VARIETY OF WAYS.SOME ARE AT PAR AMOUNT, SOME ARE AT DISCOUNT, SOME AT PREMIUMS, THERE'S A MIXTURE OF THAT. IT DEPENDS ON THE MARKET AND WHAT INVESTORS ARE INTERESTED IN BUYING AND THEN IT'S ALSO INTEREST RATES AND THINGS LIKE THAT WITH THE MARKET RATES.
AND SO THE DEBT IS STRUCTURED AROUND WHAT WE NEED AND THE FACT THAT WE WANT THE BEST DEAL FOR TOTAL ALL-IN INTEREST.
AND THEN WE SELL THE BONDS WITH OUR UNDERWRITER AND INVESTMENT BANKER TO MEET THAT REQUIREMENT. SO SOMETIMES WE END UP WITH PREMIUM BONDS, BUT WHEN WE HAVE THAT, WE GET MORE CASH UP FRONT, SO THE PAR AMOUNT IS ABLE TO BE LESS.
SO IT JUST DEPENDS ON THE STRUCTURE, IT DEPENDS ON THE MARKET THAT DAY, IT DEPENDS ON A LOT OF THINGS THAT GO INTO THAT.
SO THE PREMIUM DISCOUNT SIDE OF THAT CAN GET PRETTY COMPLICATED BUT THAT IS WHAT MAKES THE PAR AMOUNT THAT WE ISSUE THE DEBT FOR DIFFERENT FROM THE ACTUAL CASH PROCEEDS THAT COME IN.
>> SO AT THE 13 OR 14 MILLION, THAT'S ADDED INTO THE PROJECT
OVERALL -- >> YEAH, SO IT CONTRIBUTES TO THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE NEED, AND SO THEY'RE ISSUED AS PREMIUMS. THAT 14 MILLION IS USED FOR THE PROJECT AND IT ACTUALLY -- WHEN WE HAVE MORE CASH UP FRONT WITH THE PREMIUM BOND, THEN OUR PAR AMOUNT ENDS UP BEING LOWER.
AND SO -- AND VICE VERSA, FOR A DISCOUNT.
>> OKAY. AND THEN ON THE REFUNDED BONDS PORTION OF THAT, HOW IS THE $40.6 MILLION, HOW IS THAT DETERMINED, HOW DO WE DECIDE THAT THOSE ARE THE AMOUNTS -- THAT AMOUNT WE NEEDED TO REFUND --
>> THIS IS ACTUALLY A PARTIAL REFUNDING.
SO IT DEPENDS -- THERE'S A LOT OF MATURITIES IN A DEBT ISSUANCE, SO IT DEPENDS ON WHETHER SPECIFIC MATURITIES, WHETHER IT MAKES SENSE FOR THOSE TO BE REFUNDED AND THAT DEPENDS ON THE INTEREST RATE AND THAT KIND OF THING.
AND SO WE HAVE A THRESHOLD IN WHICH WE WILL NOT REFUND UNLESS WE MEET A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF SAVINGS.
AND SO WE'RE CONSTANTLY WATCHING THESE, OUR DEBT ISSUANCES, TO SEE WHEN WE CAN REFUND. AFTER A TEN-YEAR PERIOD WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT AND WE'RE WATCHING.
SO SOMETIMES IT MAKES SENSE FOR IT ALL TO BE REFUNDED, SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T. SO WE LOOK AT THAT AND DECIDE WHICH MATURITIES TO DO, WHICH IS WHERE WE COME UP WITH THE AMOUNT
TO REFUND AT THAT TIME. >> THE SAVINGS ON THIS WAS HOW
OUR KIND OF INFORMAL GOAL THERE IS FOR OUR -- IN OUR POLICY IS TO ALWAYS HAVE AT LEAST 3% SAVINGS.
WHEN WE DO THESE REFUNDINGS. THIS ONE GETS CLOSE TO ABOUT 6%.
AND SO YOU KNOW, WE NEED IT TO MAKE SENSE TO GO THROUGH THIS
PROCESS. >> AND THIS WAS PART OF THE 2015 SERIES THAT WE DID FOR SCHOOL PROJECTS [INDISCERNIBLE]
>> YES 2015, IT WAS FOR A SCHOOL PROJECT.
HOWEVER, IT WAS ISSUED FROM THE SPECIAL 5 MILL TASK FUND, SO ANY SAVINGS THAT WE SEE FROM THAT REFUNDING WILL GO BACK TOWARDS THE SPECIAL 5 MILL, WHICH WILL LIKELY BE USED FOR CITY PROJECTS
>> I KNOW, IT'S SLATED FOR THE RICHLAND PARK PROJECT THAT WE WILL ISSUE IN THE COMING YEARS DEBT AT RICHLAND PARK, ABOUT HALF OF THAT PROJECT. AND SO THIS IS REPLENISHING OF THE CITY'S 5 MILL. THERE IS WILL HIS A ALSO A SCHON BUT THAT DOES GO BACK INTO THE CITY'S 5 MILL FOR SIMPLE TERMS.
>> SO KIND OF DELVING INTO THE FUNDS THAT ARE RECEIVED SPECIFICALLY ON THE SCHOOL PROJECT ITSELF, PLACED IN A DEPOSITORY ACCOUNT, WHAT IS THE INVESTMENT STRATEGY WE HAVE -- OR WHAT KIND OF INVESTMENT STRATEGY CAN WE HAVE ON THAT ACCOUNT SPECIFICALLY? BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE NOT PAYING ALL THAT TO THE CONTRACTOR UP FRONT, WE'RE GOING TO PAY THAT OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS SO THERE'S THE OPPORTUNITY THERE OBVIOUSLY FOR SOME EARNINGS ON THAT ACCOUNT --
>> DEFINITELY. WE FOLLOW OUR POLICY, THAT YOU ALL SEE IN THE MONTHLY FINANCIALS AND THE FOOTNOTE EVERY TIME WE ISSUE THOSE, SAFETY IS FIRST, THAT'S OUR INVESTMENT STRATEGY, WITH LIQUIDITY BEING SECOND, EARNINGS BEING LAST. WHEN WE'RE DEALING WITH TAXPAYER MONEY, SAFETY IS GOING TO BE THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO US.
WE -- AND STATE LAW ALSO LIMITS WHAT WE CAN INVEST THESE PROCEEDS IN. SO WE DO OUR BEST TO EARN THE MOST WE CAN. WE NEED IT TO BE AS LIQUID AS IT CAN BE BASED ON THE KIND OF SPIN-DOWN, HOW THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN OVER TIME. AND WE MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON THAT. WHAT WE WILL HAVE IS A MONEY MARKET TYPE ACCOUNT THAT'S U.S. TREASURY ONLY, BECAUSE THAT'S ONE OF THE SAFEST INVESTMENT ACCOUNTS THAT WE CAN USE.
AND WE WILL LEAVE IT THERE, WE WILL EARN INTEREST, IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP IN MIND THAT BECAUSE THIS IS TAX EXEMPT DEBT, THE IRS LIMITS HOW MUCH INTEREST WE ACTUALLY GET TO EARN AND KEEP. SO WE HAVE SPIN-DOWN REQUIREMENTS, THINGS LIKE THAT THAT WE HAVE TO MONITOR.
BUT IF WE'RE GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND SPENDING THE WAY WE
[00:20:03]
SHOULD, THEN WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO KEEP ALL THE INTEREST AFTERTHIS IS DONE. >> AND IS THE INTEREST EARNED IS TIED TO THE SCHOOL PROJECT AS WELL --
>> IT IS, YEAH. >> IS THERE ANY CIRCUMSTANCE WHERE THAT SURPLUS CAN BE RELEASED FROM THE BOND STRUCTURE AT ALL TO BE USED FOR ANYONE ELSE?
>> IT CAN. ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT OUR BOND ATTORNEY IS OUR DOCUMENTS ARE WRITTEN IN SUCH A WAY IF THERE ARE INTEREST EARNINGS LEFT OVER AT THE END, WHEN WE GO INTO AN ISSUE LIKE THAT, WE COUNT ON INTEREST EARNINGS BUT WE DON'T WANT TO COUNT ON THOSE TOO MUCH, BECAUSE YOU MAY NOT SEE THOSE. SO IF THERE'S ANYTHING LOOKED OVER, OUR PLAN IS TO USE THAT FOR THE JUNIOR HIGH THAT IS COMING. SO WE'LL KIND OF SHIFT THAT IN THAT DIRECTION. AND OUR BOND DOCUMENTS ALLOW US
AND THIS MAY BE MORE OF A QUESTION FOR BOB OR JOHN, BUT THE 4.52 ALL-IN INTEREST COSTS THAT WE GOT ON THIS BOND IRANCE ISSUANCE, I'M ASSUMING THAT'S CAPABLE TO OTHER 30 YEAR GENERAL OBLIGATION PAPER THAT WAS SELLING THAT WEEK.
WHERE WERE WE IN THE MARKET FROM THAT STANDPOINT?
>> I MEAN, I THINK IT'S -- IT WAS A GREAT RATE, BUT I'LL ACTUALLY LET BOB YOUNG SPEAK A LITTLE BIT MORE TO THAT IF --
>> A LOT WAS GOING ON IN THE MARKET WITH THE FED AT THAT TIME AND DAILY WE WERE SEEING MARKET CHANGES AND SO PART OF WHAT WE RELY ON FRASIER LINIER FOR IS WHEN TO GO TO MARKET.
WE GOT OUR RATINGS IN SOONER THAN WE WENT TO MARKET AND THEY WERE WATCHING WITH THEIR ENTIRE TEAM THE OPTIMAL TIME TO GO IN THE MARKET. AND THINGS WERE MOVING ALMOST HOURLY IN THE DAYS LEADING UP TO THIS, SO I'LL HAVE BOB AND JOHN GO OVER A LITTLE BIT MORE AND WHAT THEY SAW.
>> WE DO CHECK ON SIMILAR CREDITS, NOT ONLY IN ALABAMA BUT THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES, TO GIVE SOME GUIDANCE IN TERMS OF INTEREST RATES AS TO HOW YOU COMPARE.
AND SO IN THIS CASE, BECAUSE IT WAS SUCH A LARGE ISSUE, MEGHAN AND THE MAYOR AND ALISON AND ERICA FELT IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO HAVE SOMEONE LOOK AT THE RATES OUTSIDE OF FRASIER LINEAR.
IT'S NOT LIKE WE DON'T TRUST YOU BUT IT'S $250 MILLION AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT THESE WERE MARKET RATES. AND SO THE CITY ENGAGED A FIRM TO DO THAT. AND THEY WERE INVOLVED IN THE MARKETING PROCESS AND LOOKING AT ISSUES THAT WERE DONE AROUND THE COUNTRY AT THE SAME TIME. AND THEIR OPINION WAS FAVORABLE.
AND IT -- THEY HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH US IN TERMS OF SELLING THE BONDS. IT WAS ONLY ANALYSIS OF THE
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL, JOHN AND ME, THE PROCESS THAT YOU WENT THROUGH -- THAT THE CITY WENT THROUGH IN TERMS OF OBTAINING YOUR RATING FROM BOTH MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE AND STANDARD & POORS -- THESE ARE THE TWO RECOGNIZED LEADERS IN PROVIDING CREDIT RATINGS FOR GOVERNMENTAL ISSUERS AS WELL AS CORPORATE ISSUERS AROUND THE COUNTRY.
AND NORMALLY, WHAT WE DO IS HAVE EITHER A CALL OR WE VISIT THEM IN NEW YORK TO MAKE A PRESENTATION.
WE FELT LIKE -- AND THE MAYOR AND MEGHAN AND THE FINANCE STAFF AGREED -- THAT BECAUSE SO MUCH HAS DEVELOPED HERE IN A POSITIVE MANNER, THAT WE SHOULD INVITE MOODY'S AND STANDARD & POORS TO COME TO AUBURN AND SEE FOR THEMSELVES WHAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING WITH THEM ABOUT FOR A DECADE.
BECAUSE THAT'S ABOUT HOW LONG IT'S BEEN SINCE THEY WERE HERE LAST. AND SO BOTH MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE AND STANDARD OF POURS CORPORATION CAME DOWN.
THEY CAME IN LIKE ON A TUESDAY NIGHT AND THEN WE HAD A MEETING AT CITY HALL. IT WAS ATTENDED BY THE MAYOR, MEGHAN, PHILIP DUNLOP, ERICA AND ALISON, AS WELL AS THE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD TO DISCUSS THE ECONOMICS AND DEMOGRAPHICS OF WHAT'S GOING ON HERE, THE APPROACH YOU ALL TAKE TO GOVERNING THE CITY AND THEN TO DISCUSS OBVIOUSLY THE FINANCES, TO SHOW THEM THAT YOU ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO PAY THIS DEBT BACK FROM DEDICATED FUNDS FOR SCHOOL PURPOSES, THAT THIS WAS NOT COMING OUT OF YOUR GENERAL OPERATIONS HERE.
THE MAYOR AND MEGHAN AND ALISON AND ERICA AND PHILIP DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB. THEN THEY TOOK THEM OUT TO REALLY SEE WHAT'S GOING IN AUBURN, WENT TO VARIOUS
[00:25:04]
NEIGHBORHOODS, WENT TO DIFFERENT RETAIL OUTLETS, SHOWED THEM THE SITE FOR THE SCHOOL, THE INDUSTRIAL PARKS THAT YOU ALL HAVE. AND THE NEXT WEEK, WE CALLED REPRESENTATIVES OF EACH OF THESE RATING AGENCIES AND FRANKLY THEY WERE BLOWN AWAY AT WHAT A WONDERFUL PLACE THAT YOU ALL HAVE HERE. AND THEY WERE INCREDIBLY IMPRESSED WITH THE PROFESSIONALISM THAT WAS SHOWN IN THE PRESENTATIONS. AND I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF COMMENTS I THOUGHT WOULD BE INTERESTING, BOTH STANDARD & POORS AND MOODY'S PRESENT A REPORT THAT IS SENT OUT TO EVERYONE THAT SUBSCRIBES TO THEIR REPORTS.AND A COUPLE OF THINGS SAID BY STANDARD & POORS... SAID THE RATING, WHICH IS DOUBLE A PLUS IS BASED ON OUR VIEW TO THE CITY'S HEALTHY PERFORMANCE REFLECTIVE OF ITS MANAGEMENT TEAM AND THEIR POLICIES AND PRACTICES.
ADDITIONAL STRENGTHS INCLUDE CONTINUED TAX PACE GROWTH, DIVERSIFICATION OWING TO POPULATION INCREASES AND MULTIPLE RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENTS IN THE CITY FURTHER SUPPORTED BY AUBURN UNIVERSITY.
THEY GOT TO SEE ALL OF THAT FIRST HAND.
NORM LETTER WE JUST TELL THEM ABOUT HOW GREAT IT IS, SHOW THEM PICTURES. S & P -- EXCUSE ME, MOODY'S GAVE A DOUBLE-A TOO HAD THIS COMMENT SAID THE CITY'S FINANCIAL POSITION WILL REMAIN HEALTHY OFFER THE NEAR TERM DUE TO SOLID FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, CONSERVATIVE BUDGETING.
THE POSITIVE PERFORMANCE WAS DUE IN LARGE MART TO REVENUE STRENGTH AND TIGHT EXPENDITURE CONTROLS".
SO IT'S NOT THAT YOU JUST GROW IN REVENUES AND THROW IN MONEY AT WHATEVER COMES ALONG; THEY SAW FIRST HAND IN THE PRESENTATIONS PARTICULARLY THAT ALISON AND ERICA PRESENTED AS WELL AS MEGHAN HOW YOU ALL ARE CONTROLLING YOUR EXPENDITURES, THINGS THAT YOU ALL TAKE FOR GRANTED LIKE YOUR DEPARTMENT HEADS BEING ABLE TO LOOK ONLINE AND SEE WHERE THEY STAND ON THEIR BUDGET IS NOT NORMAL. THAT'S AN ADDED ADVANTAGE THAT YOU ALL HAVE TO MAINTAIN YOUR BUDGET DISCIPLINE.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT ALL GOVERNMENTS IN OUR STATE DO.
YOU ALL TAKE IT FOR GRANTED. YOU SHOULD, BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR A LONG TIME. BUT IT HAS REALLY POSITIVE RESULTS. AND THOSE RESULTS ARE SHOWN IN THE OPERATIONS AS WELL AS WHAT THEY WROTE IN THESE REPORTS.
SO THEY WERE EXTREMELY IMPRESSED WITH WHAT THEY SAW HERE, AND RON WAS TALKING ABOUT HAVING GROWN UP HERE AND BEING A SMALL BUSINESSMAN AND MAKING THIS A WONDERFUL PLACE FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE NOW AND THEN THOSE WHO DO WANT TO COME HERE TO LIVE, TO RAISE THEIR FAMILY AND ENJOY RETIREMENT, WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE, HOPEFULLY A GOOD FOOTBALL SEASON TOO.
JOHN HAD A COUPLE COMMENTS HE WANTED TO MAKE TOO.
>> FIRST OF ALL, I'VE DONE THIS FOR 28 YEARS AND THIS IS ONLY THE THIRD SITE VISIT THAT I'M AWARE OF.
SO IT'S PRETTY AMAZING THEY CAME HERE.
THEY ARE COMING TO MONTGOMERY TO SEE THE STATE.
THEY CAME, THEY LIKE WHAT THEY SAW.
THE ANALYST AT THE END OF OUR MEETING AND BEFORE THE TOUR DISCREETLY ASKED MEGHAN AND PHILIP IF THEY WOULD TAKE THEM TO BUCKIE'S. THIS GUY IS FROM NEUME.
TERRIFIC. IT WAS A VERY, VERY TOUGH MARKET. ALISON HAD COMPETITORS OF OURS IN HER EARS AND A PAID PROFESSIONAL THAT THE CITY MIGHT CONSIDER PULLING THE DEAL AND WAITING FOR CALMER MARKETS.
ALISON ASKED OUR OPINION, WHICH WAS TO GO FOR IT.
THINGS COULD GET WORSE VERY QUICKLY IN THIS BUSINESS.
ALISON MADE THE GUTSY RIGHT CALL AND WE HAD A VERY SUCCESSFUL SALE. SINCE THE DAY OF THE SALE INTEREST RATES HAVE NOT GONE DOWN, THEY'VE GONE UP.
YOU'RE A BANKER, YOU'VE WATCHED THIS.
THEY'VE GONE UP ABOUT 15 BASIS POINTS.
TO PUT THE IMPACT OF ALISON'S DECISION INTO DOLLARS AND CENTS, 15 BASIS POINTS ON A DEBT THIS BIG WORKS OUT TO $255,000 A YEAR. THAT'S $7,650,000, THE STAFF AND THE MAYOR SAVED THE CITIZENS OF AUBURN BY TRUSTING US AND BY TRUSTING THE PROCESS. SO IT'S A VERY, VERY POWERFUL
[00:30:01]
AND A GREAT CALL BY YOU GUYS. INVESTORS FROM ALL ACROSS AMERICA THIEWGHT THESE BOUGHT T. THEY'RE SPECIFICALLY IMPRESSED WITH THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL AND STAFF.YOU'RE MANAGING PRETTY ROBUST GROWTH AND THAT'S A CHALLENGE THAT YOU'RE UP WITH EVERY DAY. YOU GUYS ARE DOING IT RIGHT AND IT SHOWS IN A JOB WELL DONE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONFIDENCE IN
US. >> A QUESTION ON YOUR INVESTORS? IS IT A LOT OF INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS, RETAIL INVESTORS,
WHAT -- >> THERE'S A LOT OF NEW NAMES TO YOUR CREDIT. NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL HAS NEVER BOUGHT A BOND FROM THE CITY OF AUBURN.
IT GETS THE ATTENTION OF ALL THE BIG GUYS.
YOU GOT A 20 MILLION-DOLLAR DEAL, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO COME IN ON THAT. BUT REALLY FROM SAN FRANCISCO TO BOSTON TO NEW YORK, VERY LITTLE LOCAL DISTRIBUTION IN ALABAMA BECAUSE THE INTEREST RATES WERE SO LOW.
THAT'S GOOD FOR YOU. THAT MEANS WE ARE DOING OUR JOB.
SO REALLY, REALLY ROBUST. WE HIT THE MARKET AT A TIME WE WERE LUCKY AND WE WERE GOOD, BOTH OF THEM.
A LOT OF -- AND A LOT OF DEALS GOT PULLED THAT DAY.
YOU GUYS HEARD THAT. PEOPLE WERE JUST -- WE HAD A BIG DEAL WITH A DORMATORY AND THEY JUST STOPPED, THIS MARKET IS TOO MUCH FOR US, AND BY PUSHING ON WE BECAME ONE OF THE LAST MEN STANDING. AND THEY'VE GOT TO PUT THEIR MONEY TO WORK, AND THEY DID. SO TO YOUR BENEFIT.
>> GREAT. >> I THINK THOUGH THAT JOHN DEMONSTRATES AN IMPORTANT POINT. ALISON AND I WERE TEXTING, I WAS IN THE AIR COMING BACK, AND PART OF THE DECISION POINT THEY WERE RECOMMENDING GOING TOMORROW OR PULLING THIS.
ALSO IT'S NOT GOOD IF YOU PULL A DEAL BECAUSE IT MAY SIGNAL THAT WE ARE NERVOUS SOMEHOW OR UNCERTAIN, AND SO IT IS A LOT OF FAITH. IT'S A LOT OF NUMBERS BUT IT'S A LONG RELATIONSHIP WITH BOTH OUR FINANCIAL ADVISOR, WHO NORMALLY DOESN'T ADVISE DUE TO THE SIZE OF THE DEAL AND A TEAM AT FRASER AND OUR CONFIDENCE IN THE MARKET THAT WE KNEW THERE WAS A BIG RISK. ALISON HAD THE GREEN LIGHT TO DO WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE BUT THE BIG RISK WAS THAT THE MARKET COULD GET WORSE, WHICH IT HAS. WE COULD HAVE HELD SERVE JUST A TOUCH LONGER ON THIS BUT WHAT JOHN WAS TALKING ABOUT, AN OVER 7 MILLION-DOLLAR SAVINGS OVER THE TERM OF THE ISSUE, WE CAN'T ANSWER TO YOU AND THE CITIZENS OF AUBURN THAT WE DIDN'T DO THE BEST THAT WE COULD DO. SO WE PULLED THE TRIGGER ON THAT DAY WITH THE CONFIDENCE OF WHERE WE THOUGHT THINGS WOULD BE AND WHERE WE WERE ADVISING WOULD BE. AND THEY LANDED THERE.
IT'S AN ART AND A SCIENCE. BUT WE KEPT THE FAITH AND STAYED IN AND I SMILE EVERY DAY, IT'S NOT GOOD FOR EVERYBODY ELSE BUT FOR US -- WHEN I LOOK AT THE MARKET ON A DAILY BASES I SLEEP BETTER AT NIGHT KNOWING THAT THE BASIS POINT SPREAD IS GETTING LARGER. IN TEN YEARS WE MAY BE TALKING AGAIN ABOUT REFUNDING OF ASPECTS OF THIS BUT WE ARE IN A TEN-YEAD EARLIER, WE CAN'T FOR TEN YEARS SHIFT MUCH OF ANYTHING AND IT IS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT THAN THE LAKE WILLMORE ISSUE THAT CAME IN EARLIER BUT THAT WAS AT A DIFFERENT TIME, THAT WAS TWO
YEARS AGO. >> WHAT ABOUT A DECISION WHERE WE [INDISCERNIBLE] IS THAT A MARKET DRIVEN DECISION? THE TEN-YEAR PERIOD, WHY NOT SHORTEN THAT TO FIVE OR EIGHT OR
WHATEVER -- >> THE MARKET -- THE MARKET
>> MARKET STANDARD IS A TEN-YEAR CALL.
WE COULD DO A SHORTER CALL BUT YOU'RE GOING TO PAY FOR THAT.
AND IT JUST DOESN'T JUSTIFY THE -- DOESN'T JUSTIFY ITSELF.
>> UNDERSTOOD. >> IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS -- >> ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS FOR THESE GUYS? >> ALISON ALLUDED TO THIS, BUT THIS IS JUST THE HIGH SCHOOL, THIS IS JUST [INDISCERNIBLE]
>> THERE'S TWO COMPONENTS. THE MAIN ISSUE IS HIGH SCHOOL BUT THERE'S ALSO A REFUNDING WHICH IS OTHER SCHOOL DEBT.
>> YEAH, THAT'S CORRECT. >> SO IT'S MOSTLY NEW HIGH SCHOOL AND THEN AS SHE ALSO ALLUDED TO BASED ON EARNED INTEREST AND DEVELOPMENTS, WE WILL LIKELY FLIP SOME OF THIS INTO THE NEW JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL AS WELL.
THERE WILL BE A FOLLOW-ON DEBT ISSUANCE IN THE COMING YEAR TO TWO YEARS FOR THE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL, OVER A HUNDRED MILLION SOMEWHERE BUT IT'S GOING TO DEPEND ON A LOT OF THINGS AND SOME OF THIS DEPENDS ON THE SPIN-DOWN HERE AND HOW WE DO.
BUT THE WAY THAT WE PLAN OUR DEBT FROM OUR -- I I WANT YOU TO BE IT COMFORTABLE AND OUR FINANCIAL POLICIES WE ADOPT DRIVE THE VAST MAJORITY OF ALL OF THIS AND THEY'VE ALWAYS BEEN CONSERVATIVE AND ALWAYS VERY RESPONSIBLE AND VERY FAVORABLE
[00:35:02]
TO THE RATING AGENCIES AND SO ON IS BECAUSE OF THIS FISCAL DISCIPLINE SO ALISON IS SIZING THIS ISSUE WITH OUR ENTIRE TEAM TO MAKE BEST USE OF THAT MONEY, THE PREMIUM MONEY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE AGAIN, BEST BANG FOR THE TAXPAYER BUCK.AND SO WE SPREAD IT AS FAR AS WE CAN GO.
>> SO WE WILL REVISIT THIS AGAIN FOR THE JUNIOR HIGH AND THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AT A YEAR OR TWO OR --.THE JUNIOR HIGH ITSELF
>> YOU DID A RESOLUTION FOR THE SITE PREP SO IT ACTUALLY HAS BID AS WELL, WHICH IS WHY SHE'S MENTIONING AN AMOUNT THAT'S A LITTLE BIT HIGHER THAN WE THOUGHT.
BUT AS SOON AS THEY ARE READY TO START CONSTRUCTION YOU WILL SEE ANOTHER REIMBURSEMENT RESOLUTION AND WE HAVE 18 MONTHS TO ISSUE AFTER THAT SO WE'LL BE THINKING THROUGH THE TIME OF THAT AND WHAT MAKES SENSE. THE 16 MILL CAN KIND OF HANDLE THAT TEMPORARILY AND THEN WE WOULD REIMBURSE OURSELVES AFTER THAT. SO ABOUT A YEAR, I THINK.
>> AND ALSO WANT TO -- WHILE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS -- MAKE SURE I TALKED ALSO ABOUT A RICHLAND ROAD PARK, A RICH LAND PARK DEBT ISSUANCE MUCH THAT'S SEPARATE AND APART FROM SCHOOL DEBT AND SCHOOL DEBT IS NOT IMPACTING OUR ABILITY TO ISSUE THAT DEBT FOR OTHER CITY PROJECTS.
WE CAN THE FULL ABILITY TO DO THAT PLUS SCHOOL DEBT.
>> IT'S COMPLETELY COVERED BY THE FUNDING AGREEMENT SO IT'S A WASH. YOU'RE JUST PROVIDING YOUR EXCELLENT CREDIT RATE, WHICH IS THE SAME -- YOU'VE GOT A DOUBLE A-PLUS. THAT'S THE SAME CREDIT RATING AS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. SO YOU'RE IN RARE AIR.
>> ONE OF OUR CHALLENGES AS PEOPLE SAY HAVE THE SCHOOLS ISSUE ON THEIR OWN. THE PROBLEM FOR THE TAXPAYERS IS THEY WILL HAVE TO GET THEIR OWN BOND RATING WE WOULD LIKELY BE LOWER WHICH MEANS WE PAY HIGHER INTERESTS, HIGHER COSTS TO IT'S COSTING THE CITIZENS OF AUBURN MORE MONEY --
>> IT WON'T COST THE CITIZENS MORE MONEY IF THE SCHOOL ISSUES THESE BONDS ON THEIR OWN. THAT'S A FACT.
>> JOHN, STANDARD & POORS, MOODY'S OBVIOUSLY COME DOWN HERE, THEY EVALUATE A CITY LIKE AUBURN AND THEY'RE LOOKING FOR WEAKNESS, THEY'RE LOOKING FOR HOLES.
THEY ARE AGNOSTIC. THEY'RE NOT CHUMMY.
THEY DO A JOB. AND WOULD YOU JUST SPEAK TO THAT PROCESS AS THEY ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY TO DO AN EVALUATION
LIKE THIS? >> SURE, THEY LOOK AT EVERYTHING. THEY SOURCE SMEAD, IT'S ASTONISHING WHAT THEY KNOW. THEY GOT BURNED BADLY IN THE CRISIS IN '08 BY HAVING ARTIFICIALLY HIGH CREDIT RATINGS ON A LOT OF STUFF AND WE KNOW THEY SHOULDN'T.
AND THEY HAVE TRIPLED DOWN ON THEIR DUE DILIGENCE.
THERE'S JUST NOTHING -- THERE'S NO ROCK UNTURNED HERE.
THE QUESTIONS ASKED ARE EXTREMELY THOROUGH.
YOU GUYS ARE READY FOR THEM. THEY'RE NOT HERE TO BE YOUR BUDDY. THEY'RE HERE TO GIVE AN OPINION THAT THEY'RE BEING PAID TO GIVE, SO IT'S A VERY, VERY THOROUGH
WELL, I WOULD THINK -- GO AHEAD. >> I JUST WANT TO COMMEND THE FINANCE STAFF AND CITY MANAGEMENT, I MEAN, IT'S OBVIOUS HOW WELL A JOB EVERYBODY DOES K AND YOU SEE RATINGS LIKE THIS ON PAR WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. SO COMPLIMENTS AGAIN TO YOU GUYS FOR HOW WE MANAGE ALL OF THIS AND THANK YOU FOR THE JOB YOU DO
EVERY DAY. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR
PARTNERSHIP. >> THANK YOU ALL.
>> ALL THESE YEARS. WE APPRECIATE IT.
AND I'M GOING TO SAY I AGREE WITH MAX, WE'VE GOT AN OUTSTANDING CFO AND I WATCHED HER AND ERICA AS THEY GOT IN THAT ROOM AND PROVIDED ALL THE INFORMATION AND OUR COMMUNITY WOULD BE VERY PROUD OF WHO LEADS OUR FINANCE TEAM AND THE WAY THEY PRESENT THAT TO THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT IMPRESSED WITH US. THEY'RE HERE TO TAKE A MEASURE OF WHO WE ARE. THEY'RE NOT SMILING, THEY'RE NOT FRIENDLY, IT'S A JOB, A SERIOUS JOB TO THEM.
AND THE WAY THIS WAS PRESENTED WAS VERY PROFESSIONAL, THEY THOROUGHLY DONE AND WE'RE FORTUNATE TO HAVE Y'ALL IN OUR COMMUNITY. OKAY, LET'S MOVE AHEAD WITH
RESOLUTIONS. >> WE NEED A ROLL CALL VOTE,
>> WE GOT A MOTION AND SECOND. >> DAWSON?
[10.a.1. Sale of property located on Evans Court.]
>> YES. NOW LET'S MOVE TO RESOLUTIONS
SORRY ABOUT THAT. >> ITEM 10A1 CONDITION CURSE CAN THE ACTIONS OF THE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT BOARD TO SELL
[00:40:05]
94.82 ACRES OF -- FOR THE PURPOSE OF BUILDING A NEW BUS FACILITY AND OTHER MAINTENANCE FACILITIES.>> COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOUR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? AND THE MOTION CARRIES.
[10.a.2. Purchase of property located at 1715 Pumphrey Ave.]
>> ITEM 10A2 CONCURS CAN THE ACTIONS OF THE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT BOARD TO PURCHASE APPROXIMATELY ONE-HALF ACRE OF PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1715 PUMPHREY AVENUE CURRENTLY OWNED BY THE AUBURN CITY BOARD OF EDUCATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $50,000. THE PROPERTY WILL BE USED TO EXPAND THE FACILITY ADJACENT TO THE PROPERTY.
>> MOVE FOR APPROVAL. >> A MOTION AND SECOND.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT, ALL IN FAVOUR, PLEASE SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED?
[10.b.1. Inics Battery Solutions Corp. 2585 Innovation Drive.]
AND THE MOTION CARRIES. >> ITEM 10B1, AUTHORIZES A TAX ABATEMENT FOR INICS BATTERY SOLUTIONS CORP LOCATED AT 2585 INNOVATION DRIVE FOR BUILDING MODIFICATIONS AND THE ACQUISITION OF NEW MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT.
THE COMPANY ANTICIPATES HIRING NEW EMPLOYEES AND INVESTING
APPROXIMATELY $2.9 MILLION. >> MOVE FOR APPROVAL.
>> SECOND. >> HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND.
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT, ALL IN FAVOUR EX-PLOO AAYE. ANY OPPOSED AND THE MOTION
[10.b.2. Seohan Auto USA Corporation. 3100 Haygood Court.]
CARRIES. >> ITEM 10B2 AUTHORIZES A TAX ABATEMENT FOR SEOHAN AUTO USA CORPORATION FOR THE ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY, CONSTRUCTION OF A BUILDING AND THE ACQUISITION OF NEW MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT. THE COMPANY ANTICIPATES HIRING 92 NEW EMPLOYEES OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS AND INVESTING
APPROXIMATELY $63.9 MILLION. >> MOVE FOR APPROVAL.
>> SECOND. >> ALL RIGHT MOTION AND SECOND.
COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOUR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
[10.c.1. Davenport Group, Inc. Dell PowerScale APEX subscription. $841,740.]
ANY OPPOSED? AND THE MOTION CARRIES.>> THE NEXT TWO ITEMS ARE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR/CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER WOULD LOVE TO ANSWER ALL YOUR DETAILED QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE IMPORTANT INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ITEMS. I GOT A FEW QUESTIONS FROM SOME OF YOU ABOUT THEM SO I TOLD GREG TO PLEASE SPEAK AT CITY COUNCIL IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS. 10C1 AUTHORIZES A CONTRACT WITH DAVENPORT GROUP FOR A DELL POWERSCALE APEX SUBSCRIPTION IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF [INDISCERNIBLE] OR $168,351.36 PER YEAR. THIS WILL REPRESENT A SAVINGS OF $781,000 OVER THE FIVE-YEAR PERIOD VERSUS OUR CURRENT
SOLUTION. >> MOVE FOR APPROVAL.
>> SECOND. >> WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND.
WHO MIGHT HAVE QUESTIONS, COMMENTS?
>> I THINK WE OUGHT TO BRAG ON HIM.
IT LOOKS LIKE HE'S GETTING IT FOR ABOUT HALF PRICE AND WE'RE
GETTING NEWER STUFF AND WE'RE -- >> I APPRECIATE THAT, SONNY.
>> AND I WOULD GUESS THAT THE LICENCES ARE PAID AND EVERYTHING -- I WONDER IF HE COULD SPEAK TO THIS, HE WOULD PROBABLY DO A
BETTER JOB. >> HE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO -- ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK YOU HEARD EARLIER IS WE TALK A LOT ABOUT BEING GOOD STEWARDS OF THE TAXPAYER DOLLAR AND THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS. WE COULD CONTINUE DOWN THE PATH WE'RE GOING DOWN AND KEEP PAYING EQUIPMENT INSTEAD OF LEASING IT AND THE GOAL HERE OF LEASING IT, EVEN THOUGH THE FINANCE DIRECTOR AND EVERYBODY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE WORDS WITH GREG ABOUT DOING THE LEASES BEHIND THE KEEPS IS MORE CHALLENGING FOR US FROM A PAPERWORK STANDPOINT, BUT CERTAINLY SAVING THIS KIND OF MONEY, WHICH WE SAVE A LOT MORE
ON THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM -- >> IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WITH EVERYTHING AI THESE DAYS, EVERYTHING IS COSTING MORE IN THE I-T WORLD, LEAD TIMES ARE LONGER SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE ABLE TO GET WHEN PRICES ARE STILL -- THEY'RE NOT GREAT BUT BETTER THAN WHAT THEY WILL BE.
SO THIS IS JUST THAT OPPORTUNITY TO GET IN ON THAT AND FIX THAT
COST FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. >> AND BY LEASING IT, WE CAN KEEP UP WITH THE CHANGES IN TECHNOLOGY, WITHOUT HAVING TO
REPURCHASE EQUIPMENT. >> SURE, THAT MAKES THINGS A LOT EASIER FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE TOO.
WE'RE ABLE TO STAY IN SUPPORT, STAY A LITTLE MORE CUTTING EDGE.
IT'S BEEN A LITTLE WHILE ON BOTH OF THESE SOLUTIONS SO WE'LL PICK UP SOME IMMEDIATE GAINS JUST FROM DOING THAT.
>> AT THE END OF THE LEASE, WHAT HAPPENS AT THE END OF THE LEASE?
DO WE -- >> YES, WE HAVE KIND OF TWO DIFFERENT ONES. THE ONE WITH THIS DEL APEX SUBSCRIPTION, THIS IS A FIVE-YEAR.
AT THE END OF THAT WE WOULD PROBABLY LOOKING TO RENEGOTIATE ANOTHER TERM. AT THAT POINT YOU'RE PROBABLY LOOKING AT AGAIN ANOTHER HARDWARE REFRESH.
YOU'LL HAVE SOME OPTIONS THERE. PLENTY OF TIME TO PREPARE FOR
THAT AS WELL. >> AS FAR AS THE DATA IS CONCERNED, IS THE HARDWARE ALL INSIDE IN AUBURN OR IS IT --
>> YES, YEAH. SO THIS IS KIND OF PART OF REDUNDANT SOLUTION. THIS ONE SPECIFICALLY, WHERE THIS ONE REPRESENTS OUR PRODUCTION STORAGE ENVIRONMENT.
WE ALSO HAVE A [INDISCERNIBLE] ARCHIVE SITE AS WELL SO WE ALWAYS KEEP THOSE THINGS I GUESS RIM REPLICATED TO MAKE SURE WE DO HAVE OPTIONS IN THE EVENT
SOMETHING DOES HAPPEN. >> IF KNIFE YEARS IF WE HAVE TO SWITCH TO ANOTHER PROVIDER -- THE DATA --
>> CAN YOU MOVE THE MICROPHONE CLOSE TO YOU.
[00:45:02]
>> SO BOTH OF THESE SOLUTIONS TONIGHT, WHAT'S SO GOOD ABOUT THEM AND MAKES IT EASIER FOR US, THEY ESSENTIALLY PLUG AND PLAY INTO THE CURRENT. SO AN EXAMPLE THIS CONTRACT IS APPROVED, THESE NODES ESSENTIALLY PLUG INTO WHAT WE HAVE TODAY AND WE DON'T SEE AS FAR AS A MISSING BEAT OF DOWN-TIME. SO THAT'S BETWEEN BOTH OF THESE, THAT'S ONE OF THE BEAUTIFUL THINGS.
WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT A SIGNIFICANT MIGRATION TIME,
THINGS LIKE THAT. >> OKAY, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTIONS. GREG LOVES THEM.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND.
[10.c.2. Davenport Group, Inc. Dell VxRail virtualization infrastructure. $2,510,817.92.]
ALL IN FAVOUR PLEASE SAY AYE. MOTION CARRIES.>> ITEM 10 C-2 AUTHORIZES A THREE-YEAR CONTRACT WITH DAVENPORT GROUP FOR A DEL VX RAIL VIRTUALIZATION IN THE AMOUNT OF -- WHICH REPRESENTS A THREE-YEAR SAVINGS VERSUS OUR CURRENT SOLUTION OF $1.17 MILLION.
>> MOVE FOR APPROVAL. >> WE'VE GOT A MOTION AND SECOND. ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?
>> THESE ARE BUDGETED ITEMS, CORRECT?
>> SO THERE'S A NUANCE. THE ITEM 10C1 IS BUDGETED IN '26. WE'RE ASKING FOR AN ADJUSTMENT IN '27. AND THEN IT WILL BE BUDGETED THEREAFTER. THE 10 C-2, GREG I DON'T HAVE IT
OPEN IN FRONT OF ME -- >> WE ARE BUDGETED FOR '27 --
>> FOR 28 AND 29, IT WILL PICK UP IN THE BUDGET.
>> THANK YOU. >> AND THIS IS A DELL VX RAIL VIRTUALIZATION INFRASTRUCTURE. SO COULD YOU BREAK THAT DOWN
INTO -- >> SONNY, YOU SOUNDED SO I-T WITH THAT. THAT WAS REALLY GOOD.
>> SO THIS I GUESS THE EASIEST WAY TO DESCRIBE THIS, SO TRADITIONALLY BEFORE I GUESS EVEN WHEN I STARTED WITH I-T, A SERVER REPRESENTED A PHYSICAL BOX THAT YOU RAN THINGS ON.
THEY KIND OF PROGRESSED SO NOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IS YOU HAV-
>> THEY STILL CAN'T HEAR YOU. >> THESE BUCKETS OF KIND OF PROCESSOR, HARD DISK RAMS, ONE OF THOSE THINGS YOU WOULD HAVE ON YOUR NORMAL COMPUTER AT HOME SO THESE PRESENT THOSE TO OUR VIRTUAL SERVERS SO WE HAVE ABOUT 85 SERVERS THAT RUN ON THIS PLATFORM. AND THOSE CAN MOVE BETWEEN NODES AND SITES. WE DON'T HAVE ANY DOWN-TIME.
THEY ALSO PARTICIPATE WELL IN OUR BACKUP AND RECOVERY PLANS SO WE CAN ACTUALLY BACK THESE UP TO CLOUD AND RESTORE THEM OUT SO IF SOMETHING WIPED OUT OUR ENTIRE INFRASTRUCTURE HERE, WE CAN STILL SURVIVE THAT. SO A LOT OF ATTRACTIVE THINGS
THERE. >> THE RATING AGENCIES ARE BIG ON CYBERSECURITY AND ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT IT, FOR THAT
VERY REASON. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT, ALL IN FAVOUR PLEASE SAY AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT, MOTION CARRIES.
>> MAYOR, THOSE ARE ALL THE ITEMS OF BUSINESS WE HAVE FOR
[12. CITIZENS' OPEN FORUM.]
YOU THIS EVENING. >> OKAY, AT THIS TIME WE'LL OPEN CITIZENS UP TO THE FLOOR. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS CITY COUNCIL ABOUT ANYTHING PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE US YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD AND YOU'LL HAVE 3 MINUTES TO SPEAK TO THE COUNCIL AND WE'LL ASK YOUR COMMENTS BE
ADDRESSED TO THE COUNCIL. >> ROBERT MCCALLUM.
4315 GOLF CLUB DRIVE. I ALSO OWN THE WEBSITE ALABAMA REEL NEWS. I'M HERE TO ADDRESS NOT THE REASON WHY I WAS THROWED OFF THE BALLOT BUT THE TECHNICALITY AND I BELIEVE THE PRECEDENT THAT WE ARE SETTING DUE TO THAT.
LET'S SEE... JUST ONE SECOND. AMERICA WAS BUILT ON THE SIMPLE IDEA IN THIS COUNTRY THAT PEOPLE CHOOSE THEIR LEADERS.
GOVERNMENT DOES NOT CHOOSE ITS OPPONENTS.
THOSE IN POWER DON'T DECIDE WHO IS WORTHY OF ASKING FOR THE PEOPLE'S VOTE. THE CITIZENS DO.
THAT'S NOT THE PROMISE OF SELF-GOVERNANCE.
I STEPPED FORWARD BECAUSE I LOVE AUBURN.
THAT'S THE REASON WHY I MOVED HERE.
I BELIEVE OUR COMMUNITY DESERVED ANOTHER VOICE ON THE BALLOT.
WHETHER I WON OR LOST SHOULD HAVE BEEN DECIDE BY THE VOTERS, NOT BY A PROCESS THAT FROM MY PERSPECTIVE DENIED ME A FAIR OPPORTUNITY TO BE ON THE BALLOT. I WAS INFORMED AFTER QUALIFYING HAD CLOSED THAT I WAS CONSIDERED INELIGIBLE, BECAUSE I WAS NOT REGISTERED TO VOTE. BY THEN, THERE WAS NO OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE BEFORE THE DEADLINE HAD PASSED.
THAT LEFT ME ASKING A SIMPLE QUESTION... IS THIS THE BEST WE CAN DO? ARE WE THAT SCARED OF COMPETITION THAT THIS IS THE BEST WE CAN DO? THERE WAS ANOTHER MOMENT THAT GAVE ME A PAUSE SHORTLY AFTER I QUALIFIED. I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM THE SHERIFF AT TALAPOOSA COUNTY. JIMMY ABBOTT HAD SPOKE TO THE COUNCILMAN AND THE SHERIFF RECOMMENDED I WITHDRAW FROM THE RACE. I WILL LET OTHERS DECIDE WHAT THEY THINK OF THAT. I ONLY KNOW HOW IT FELT TO MEECH ME AS THOUGH ENTERING PUBLIC SERVICE REQUIRED PERMISSION FROM
[00:50:01]
PEOPLE ALREADY CONNECTED TO POWER.THAT ISN'T HOW OUR CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC IS SUPPOSED TO WORK. HEALTHY GOVERNMENTS DON'T FEAR COMPETITION. HONEST LEADERS DON'T FEAR DEBATE. STRONG DEMOCRACIES DON'T BECOME STRONGER BY REDUCING THE NUMBER OF CHOICES BEFORE THE VOTERS.
TOO OFTEN TODAY WE TALK ABOUT PRESERVING DEMOCRACY WHILE MAKING IT HARDER FOR ORDINARY CITIZENS TO PARTICIPATE IN IT.
WE CELEBRATE GOVERNMENT BY THE PEOPLE BUT SOMETIMES WE FORGET THE PEOPLE PART. GOVERNMENT IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BELONG TO THE INCUMBENTS. IT'S SUPPOSED TO BELONG -- IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BELONG TO THE INSIDERS.
IT BELONGS TO EVERY CITIZEN WILLING TO RAISE THEIR HAND AND SERVE. SO TONIGHT, I'M ASKING THIS COUNCIL TO THINK BEYOND ME. ASK YOURSELF WHETHER THIS PROCESS INSPIRES CONFIDENCE. ASK WHETHER IT ENCOURAGES THE ORDINARY CITIZENS TO GET INVOLVED.
ASK WHETHER A YOUNG PERSON WATCHING TONIGHT WOULD LEAVE BELIEVING THAT AUBURN WELCOMES NEW VOICES OR PROTECTS THE STATUS QUO. PUBLIC TRUST IS BUILT WHEN
GOVERNMENT -- (BELL). >> THANK YOU, SIR.
WHO WILL BE NEXT? >> HI THERE.
I'M MARK HAVESTRA. I LIVE AT 528 OAK MEADOW LANE.
I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS THE APPROPRIATE PLACE BUT THERE'S DERBY LIVE RIGHT NEXT TO THE MONTESSORI SCHOOL.
IT'S CALLED CHILDREN'S HOUSE. IT'S AT 231 EAST DRAKE AVENUE.
AND MY SON IS GOING TO BE ATTENDING THERE TOMORROW.
AND I'VE BEEN LIVING THERE NOW FOR THREE YEARS.
BORN AND RAISED IN AUBURN, I'VE TRAVELED A BUNCH BUT I CAME BACK HERE TO RAISE MY SON AND I KNOW HOW MUCH THE CITY CARES ABOUT ITS CITIZENS AND ESPECIALLY ITS CHILDREN.
BUT THERE'S NOT APPROPRIATE SIGNAGE FOR THAT SCHOOL.
AND THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF NEW HOUSES AND NEW DEVELOPMENT FOR MOSTLY STUDENTS WHO ARE COMING IN AND THE SCHOOL DOESN'T LOOK LIKE A TRADITIONAL SCHOOL, SO PEOPLE ARE JUST DRIVING WAY TOO FAST ON THAT ROAD. AND I WANTED TO MAKE A REQUEST FOR SPEED BUMPS AND MORE APPROPRIATE SIGNAGE, JUST OUT THERE IN FRONT OF THE SCHOOL. I TALKED TO THE OWNER OF THE SCHOOL, CHARLENE KAM. SHE'S DONATED FOR A SIDEWALK TO BE PUT IN. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S HAPPENED -- ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET, AWAY FROM [INDISCERNIBLE]. YEAH, SORRY, I'M NERVOUS, I DON'T LIKE PUBLIC SPEAKING WHATSOEVER.
>> YOU'VE DONE A GOOD JOB. >> I APPRECIATE IT.
YEAH, BUT I JUST -- I SEE A LOT OF STUDENTS DRIVING WAY TOO FAST, LOOKING AT THEIR CELLPHONES AND ANYTHING WE COULD DO TO BRING MORE AWARENESS AND SAFETY TO THAT SCHOOL WOULD BE
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR MAKING US AWARE.
WE APPRECIATE. >> IS THIS THE APPROPRIATE PLACE
OR IS THERE SOMEBODY ELSE -- >> IT IS FINE.
NORMALLY YOU COULD HAVE CALLED SOMEBODY FROM PUBLIC SAFETY IF YOU WANTED TO. YOU COULD HAVE CONTACTED YOUR CITY COUNCIL REP IF YOU WANTED TO.
YOU COULD HAVE CALLED THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OR THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE BUT WE HAVE HEARD YOU TONIGHT AND OUR STAFF
WILL BE FOLLOWING UP. >> WE'LL HAVE A STAFF MEMBER GET WITH YOU IF YOU DON'T MIND STAYING A FEW MINUTES AND WE'LL
GET YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION. >> I HAVE TO HEAD OUT IN A FEW
MINUTES. >> I'LL GET OUR DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS -- SHE'S RIGHT IN THE BACK ROW, SHE WILL FOLLOW
AND GET YOUR INFORMATION. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
AS THE MAYOR SAID, YOU FEEL FREE TO CALL ANY CITY DEPARTMENT ANYTIME AND WE'LL BE GLAD TO HELP YOU.
>> HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT FIRST DAY.
WHO WILL BE NEXT? >> I'M FRANCIS PRIVON, 1270 EAST UNIVERSITY DRIVE. GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. I HAVE COME TO SHARE CONCERNS ABOUT THE ISLAMIC CENTRE AND ITS CONSTRUCTION PERMIT APPLICATION.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT ISLAM, RATHER BASED ON DISCUSSIONS WITH RESIDENTS IN AUBURN, INCLUDING IN THE DIRECT AREA SURROUNDING THE SITE OF THE MOSQUE, THERE ARE SUBSTANTIAL CONCERNS ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE PROJECT. SHOCK AND DISAPPOINTMENT ARE CLEAR. NO COMMUNICATION WITH THE PEOPLE PEOPLE. THE FINAL DECISION RESTS WITH YOU ELECTED OFFICIALS TO REVIEW THE APPLICATION AND MAKE THE CITIZENS OF AUBURN AWARE OF THE APPLICATION.
CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE STATED THAT THE ISLAMIC CENTRE IS JUST A RELIGIOUS BUILDING AND ITS PERMIT MUST BE SWIFTLY APPROVED.
WHY NOT MAKE THE EFFORT TO INVESTIGATE THE IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY OF THE MOSQUE? A CALL TO THE CITY PLANNING DEPARTMENT HAS [INDISCERNIBLE] THREE WEEKS TAKEN FOR PERMIT TO BE APPROVED, NO REFERENCE TO RESEARCH ON HOW THE DECISION 4 BEEN TAKEN ELSEWHERE. YET THERE BE AT LAST AN ABUNDANCE OF LITERATURE ON THE SUBJECT.
WHY IS IT SO? ON ITS GOFUNDME SITE THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY DECLARED THAT "THE NEW BUILDING DESIGN WITH AN ACCOMMODATION FOR 400 PEOPLE, SIGNIFICANTLY EXPANDING THE COMMUNITY'S CAPACITY FOR ITS CURRENT 120 PERSON ARMSTRONG STREET FACILITY". YET THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY IS REPORTED TO BE BETWEEN 700 AND 1,000 PEOPLE, SUCH A DISCREPANCY
[00:55:03]
DEMANDS EXPLANATION. FOR EXAMPLE, THE TWO LANE ROAD ON MILL CREEK ROAD CANNOT ACCOMMODATE THE TRAFFIC OF A COMMUNITY DESCRIBED AS VIBRANT ON ITS 700 MEMBER WEBSITE.WITH AN AVERAGE OF THREE PERSONS PER CAR, ABOUT 250 CARS WILL BE ON THE ROAD FOR THE 60-MINUTE FRIDAY PRAYERS AS WELL AS FOR SOME OF THE FIVE DAILY PRAYERS. THERE'S NO SPACE FOR A TURNING LANE INTO THE CENTER'S PARKING LOT, ALTHOUGH TOO SMALL TO ACCOMMODATE THE MINIMUM 330 VEHICLES ON NORMAL FRIDAYS AS AND MORE ON FESTIVE DAYS. THE PLANNED PARKING IS FOR 150 CARS. TYPICALLY A 700 SQUARE FOOT ALLOWANCE PER PERSON IS STANDARD.
THE VIBRANCY OF THE COMMUNITY FROM 700 NO 1,000 MEMBERS WILL MEAN 5 TO 7,000 SQUARE FEET FOR ITS MOSQUE.
THE PLANNED SIZE IS LESS THAN 3,000 SQUARE FEET.
NOISE HAS BEEN NATION-WIDE REPORTED AS A SIGNIFICANT ISSUE BY NEIGHBORING RESIDENTS OF THE MOSQUE AND WHEN ACTIVITIES LAST LATE INTO THE NIGHT, ADD NOISE FROM 330 CARS AND 700 TO 1,000 CONGREGANTS TALKING, DANCING, CHANTING, ET CETERA WAY BEYOND THE ALABAMA CODE SECTION 13A-11-7, HAVE THE LOCAL RESIDENTS WHO NEED TO GO TO WORK, TO SCHOOL AND LIVE THEIR LIVES BEEN CONSULTED? WHY NOT? QUESTIONS ABOUT THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, THE SCHEDULE AND NUMBER OF COMMUNITY EVENTS. THE ON SITE CEMETERY AND THE ARCHITECTURE ISSUES DEMAND ANSWERS.
IN CONCLUSION, PLEASE PROVIDE THE AUBURN COMMUNITY WITH NOTICE OF THE APPLICATION THAT'S SCHEDULED -- (BELL).
>> THANK YOU, SIR. WHO WILL BE NEXT? WE'LL CLOSE CITIZENS INPUT. ANYTHING FROM THE COUNCIL? OKAY, IS THERE A MOVE TO
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.